RobinErithacus rubecula

The robin is a popular visitor to gardens and is well-known for its tameness. In the winter they will regularly visit a bird-table to eat kitchen scraps. Robins have become symbols of Christmas-time in Britain and are often depicted on Christmas cards.

Overview

Distribution: all over Europe, except for parts of the Mediterranean coast and northern Scandinavia. Also found in the Azores, Canary Islands and parts of North Africa; eastwards into central Russia, Turkey and Iran.

Life-span: oldest known bird 13 years. Usually live for a few years only.

Food: insects, worms, seeds and berries.

The robin is a popular visitor to gardens and is well-known for its tameness - with patience it can even be encouraged to eat from the hand. Robins living elsewhere in Europe are much more wary of humans because there they are shot in their thousands for food or sport.